Almost Xmas Eve

I took the twins into town as they had some last minute shopping they wanted to do.  Walmart's parking lot was packed but (for a change) all the checkouts were being used instead of just a couple. I wanted to buy a little more yarn so I wandered back to the sewing section while they each went in their own direction.  Much to my delight we all got what we wanted quickly and it was back to the car in record time.

Hunter wanted to drive and I need to let him so I handed over the keys.  Amazes me the little odds and ends they're teaching me about my own car and driving rules in general.  He lowered my steering wheel, for example, and said it's not supposed to be near your face. I guess because of the airbags. I didn't know that.  Also didn't know how to move the steering column.  Anyhow, we headed home and I treated them to burgers and fries at a take-out place on our side of town called 'The 8th Street Bridge."  It was pretty good too.

I told them that as soon as my Match 4 numbers hit, I'm ordering a truckload of gravel for their folks. So hard to maneuver around the mud getting in and out of the car in their driveway.  I think the place needs a drainage field too because when it rains hard for several days, their front lawn ends up looking like a small pool.

I finished this small flannel baby quilt for Linda's niece today.  Gonna take it to the casino next time we go so I can avoid skyhigh postage.  Especially since the postage cost would outweigh the worth of the blanket.  I really shouldn't even give it. I should start a fresh one and do a good job.  But that's not my way.  ha ha

This is supposed to be the top but it would probably work better for the bottom as it's such a crazy mix.  I had some squares cut out already of baby design and some blue flowers so I sewed them up intending to use this other blue receiving blanket (one of Jakes) for the back.  The front was too small so I found some leftover baby blanket material and sewed that on. It still didn't fit so I went and bought some pink flannel. Once that was sewn on, I really had a pathetic blanket on my hands.  I didn't let that stop me, though. I added batting to the middle, attached the blue blanket to the back and proceeded to tie it together.  Decided I'd machine quilt it in places and then (naturally) I had a few puckers going.  Didn't matter, though. I was on a roll.  Finished the edges and called it good!  Figured if nothing else, it can be used on the floor so baby can puke on it.  Ha ha

As soon as I finish this blog, I'm proceeding into the sewing room to gather up all the material I've bought recently.  Intend to wash it all up even though it means I'll have to iron it afterwards.  I finally figured out that I suspect the sizing chemicals or whatever you call it that they add to material is what was making my eyes so uncomfortable and itchy.  I was doing a lot of sewing but didn't connect it until I quit sewing, my eyes cleared up, and when I started to resew, they flared again.

Oh, here comes the rain again.  That's okay, though. Just don't need to see any white flakes. Am going over to Jen's tomorrow night and we're taking off for Renton on Christmas morning.  Jacob is two years old today. Here's the picture Mary posted on Facebook. It's already got 135 "likes."

I met Mary Norton for lunch yesterday. I shopped in Bay Variety next door and was reminded of May's Variety in PT when I was a kid.

Had Sue and Paul and a friend of theirs over for dinner on Sunday. Jenni stopped in for a bit too.

                                                                   me, Sue, Jenni

                                                        Paul and Tucker "with Buddy"

Other pictures I saw on Facebook and decided to keep for my collection include the following......

 my cousin, Grant Walker, when he was a boy and fed chickens on the farm

 Joanne & Patty Plattner as children visiting Santa at the Dry Goods Store in Port Townsend

                          Cousin Linda Wheat on the left at work in Louisville

                      Ruth Kvinsland with her grand kids, Robert and Sissy

 My cousin, Tyler Johnson, with his wife Amber and five kids ---- so darn cute!

a ferry boat in Port Townsend Bay that I liked so much, I had it enlarged and framed. Not sure who took it.

Well, must get to that laundry chore now and just remembered I need to make a label for that baby blanket that kind of looks like it was made by somebody who is unstable.  

Have a Merry Christmas. I probably won't get back to blogging until next week.